More Tiki Goddess Mystery & Fun from NYT Bestselling Author Jill Marie Landis

HAWAII FIVE UH-OH!

Em and the Hula Maidens are on the case . . .

Em Johnson is prepping for the biggest catering gig she's ever booked, this time at the world famous Tiki Goddess Bar. Then she hears Kiki Godwin has just been released from the psych ward at Kukuoloko. If the unpredictable leader of the Hula Maidens isn't completely recovered from her PTMAD (Post Traumatic Monkey Attack Disorder), Em knows all hell could break loose at the upscale event.

But for once, Kiki isn't the problem. When the guest of honor's multi-million dollar paintings are stolen and a security guard turns up dead, Kiki's convinced the best way to get her mojo back is to capture the art thieves. Kiki and the girls come up with a plan to lure the felons out by staging a grand hoax. Their bait will be a cocktail party featuring paintings by the reclusive Alphonse Cappuccino, an "up and coming artist" who is none other than Kiki's furry nemesis.


Here's an excerpt:

      “WHAT?” The movie producer whispered.

The last of the color drained from his face along with his anger.

A security guard with the name Leo embroidered on his shirt said, “My uncle is dead in your driveway. Someone was able to get in through your electronic gate and close it behind ’em.”

“It’s an all-in-one system. State of the art. One code works everything, and only I know the password.”

“Then it ain’t worth piss,” Leo mumbled.

Wally Williams overheard. He moaned and headed for the couch. Em asked him for her phone as he walked by. He tugged it out of his pocket. She stepped aside, turned her back on the group, and hit Detective Roland Sharpe’s number.

When his voice mail came on she whispered into the phone, “Call me. I need you.”

As if things weren’t bad enough, Em looked up and saw Kiki Godwin, self-appointed leader of the Hula Maidens walking slowly toward her with her arms out for balance and a martini glass clutched in one hand. She set the empty glass down on a cube table and smoothed down the front of her pareau.

“I’m okay. I’m okay,” she told Em.

“You sure?”

Kiki nodded. “What’s going on? I saw the stampede for the exit. People are going crazy out there yelling for their cars.”

Now was not the time to tell an already fragile Kiki what had happened next door. Em struggled to figure out what to say.

“Something is up,” Kiki pressed. “Why else would there be vomit in that vase over there? Come on and tell. You know I’ll find out one way or the other. What do you think I am? A blabbermouth?”

Em shrugged. “Kiki, really. I can’t say.”

“Okay, so maybe I am a bit talkative. Don’t you think it’s best I hear it from you and not later when the story has been blown out of proportion?”

“I guess you’ll find out anyway,” Em agreed. Kiki was right about the story being blown out of proportion. By morning folks would be circulating tales of a mound of dead bodies piled in the Delacruz driveway, not to mention hundreds of missing paintings.

Em stepped closer to Kiki and lowered her voice. “There’s been a break-in and a murder.”

“A murder? Here?” Kiki yelled.

“My house is cursed!” Wally threw himself down on the sofa and pulled a throw pillow over his face to muffle his screams.

“Not here,” Em told Kiki. “Next door at the Delacruz place.”

Kiki went dead silent for so long Em thought she’d lost the ability to speak again, but then she slowly smiled.

“I hate to admit it,” she said, “but this might be just what I need to help me snap out of my nervous breakdown.”

“What are you talking about?” Em glanced at her cell and wished Roland would call back.

“Don’t you see?” Kiki said. “Now I can focus on solving this murder, take my mind off of my, well, off of my own mind.”

“Oh, Kiki, I don’t think that’s the kind of diversion you need. How about quilting, instead?”

Kiki stared at her. “Have you lost your mind?”

Hawaii Five Uh-Oh is hilarious, non-stop action. So pour yourself a tropical beverage, kick back, and join Uncle Louie, Em, Sophie Chin, and the Hula Maidens at the always unpredictable, ever-entertaining, Tiki Goddess Bar. 

About the other books in the series:

"Too Hot Four Hula is a fun, quick read with nary a lull in the engaging plot."--Fresh Fiction

"This book was truly hilarious."--Open Book Society on Too Hot Four Hula

"Smart and sassy, fun, and endearing."-- Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author

Meet Jill

A seven-time Romance Writers of America finalist and winner of a RITA Award, NYT bestselling author Jill Marie Landis also now writes The Tiki Goddess Mysteries (set on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, where she lives with her husband and a spoiled cat. 

Visit her world of tiki, hula maidens, and tropical fun at www.thetikigoddess.com.

Let's get to know more about Jill...

E.E.: Is writing or storytelling easier for you?

Thinking about this one, I realize they are one and the same for me. If I wasn’t a born storyteller, I think I’d probably have a harder time writing and perhaps wouldn’t write at all. I have to see the setting, characters and action in my head and then translate the scenes into written word in order to share it with readers. For me it’s much easier to write/tell the story, tell the tale, and then go back and polish up the writing than it is to try to come up with a clean manuscript right off the bat.  

E.E.: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

I’m a very eclectic reader. I love any novel in any genre that keeps me riveted to the page. If the action is fast paced, the characters so real I don’t want to leave them for a minute, the setting so compelling and interesting that I want to see, feel, taste, and smell the place—well, then I’m hooked.

E.E.: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

      Most days I write without music. If I play Hawaiian music, then I’m too tempted to jump up and hula if I’ve learned a dance to the song. I love to sing along to music, so that’s also a distraction. Truthfully, I used to write while listening to 24 hour news channels like CNN. The television is on, but I’m not really listening. It’s just good background noise, which helps me focus on what I’m doing. I was a kindergarten teacher and so I have a pretty high tolerance for racket. In fact, if it’s too quiet I start thinking about other things and my mind wanders. If there’s background noise or something else going on, then I’m forced to focus on my work. I’m not sure that makes a lot of sense to some writers who need absolute quiet.  

E.E.: What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do?

I was drawn to write historical romances because I read them by the bushel full in the early 1980 and the 1990’s. (Am I telling my age here?) What’s not to love about historical romances? Alas, after I wrote fifteen of them, I grew weary of the old West, so I wrote a trilogy of Contemporary Romantic Suspense novels which were published in hardcover by Ballantine Books. Lover’s Lane, Heat Wave, and Heartbreak Hotel. Two of those titles will be re-issued by Bell Bridge Books, my current publisher, in the coming year.

Now I’m writing my Tiki Goddess Mystery series set on Kauai and loving it because comedy is something I always wanted to write. Much of the material in the stories reflects my own life here on the island and quirky island life in general (except for the murders, of course). Coming up with the adventures of the crazy old hula dancers who try to solve mysteries and wind up in a heap of trouble instead is so much fun that I almost don’t consider it work. I also include recipes for tropical cocktails and pupus (appetizers) in back of each book and we all have a great time taste testing the mixes. 

Readers love the antics of the madcap Hula Maidens and keep begging for more. HAWAII FIVE UH-OH! Is the fifth book in the series and though I wasn’t sure I’d keep going, I have an idea for number six rattling around in my head.

Jill will be giving away two books: a print version and an eBook, winner's choice of the first book in the series, or this current release. Just leave a comment and enter the drawing!

 What's your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Do you have a favorite genre?

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Get Lost With Deborah C. Wilding!

Folks, please help me welcome Deborah C. Wilding!

Let's get to know her and her writing...

 

WHO IS DEBORAH?

After studying literature and earning graduate degrees in library science and communication, Deborah C. Wilding worked in corporate communications before turning her hand to writing historical fiction. Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence for Mystery/Suspense in unpublished historical fiction, she went on to become a finalist in the RWA Golden Heart Award. She returned to the Aloha State, after a decade of living and writing in Malaysia and India, to spend her time outdoors gardening, hiking and horseback riding when she's not at the computer. 

 

 

Contact     |     Website     |     Facebook     |     Goodreads

BLURB      

Impoverished Honolulu heiress Merrylei Wentworth has two big problems in her life. First, mysterious prowlers keep vandalizing the ancestral mansion she's determined to renovate as a guesthouse. Second, Japanese American architect Jamison Sumida raises her suspicions when he offers assistance if she'll sell him one of her late mother's paintings.     

Conscious of his immigrant background, Jamison isn't interested in the feisty, independent Merrylei. She's wary of his motives--why is he interested in an unknown artist? But she's haunted by a compelling and seductive sense of déjà vu when they're together. As they are drawn deeper into the mystery of the painting--with its clues to missing jewels of the Hawaiian monarchy--long-hidden family secrets are revealed. All the while their attraction to each other deepens--until the attack on Pearl Harbor tears their lives apart.      

EXCERPT  
"Perhaps you need a shooting range."         

Was the man mad? I glanced up to see the man repressing a smile but unable to hide the sparkle in his eyes. "Why no, I was planning one for archery."         

He had an agreeably surprised expression that invited me to continue. “I was captain of the archery team in college, and I’ve hit my share of bull’s-eyes.”

Touché, Mr. Sumida.

“I’ll remember to stay out of your way during target practice,” he said, laughing.

“I’m a good shot with a rifle, too.”

We laughed together then, and I felt my mood lifting to match the good-natured teasing he’d started. Our awkward meeting seemed behind us as I relaxed into naturalness.

The soft light of early evening filtered through the front door as we stood quietly in the vestibule for a few moments. The smell of rain was in the air—but coming from the next valley over. It was what I loved about Hawaiʻi, the changes that flew across the landscape in a single day. Mother used to tell me, “If you don’t like the weather now, just wait five minutes.”

“I’d like to stop back in a couple of days to see how your renovations are going, if that’s all right. I’ll bring some drawings that show details for repairing the porch balusters and this doorframe. See how the designs have chipped away?” He ran his strong fingers across the mottled wood.

My reverie was so encompassing I had almost forgotten who I was with. It was as if I’d known this stranger longer than just a few minutes and we had formed a comfortable familiarity between us. In my mind, he changed into someone from an earlier time—a likeness blurred by passing years but brimming with intensity. I’m sure we had been standing together at nightfall like this before, looking through the darkening trees. That other persona became so real I turned…to find him watching me.

AND NOW...

ALEXA: How often to you get lost in a story?

DEBORAH: Sometimes I start reading a new book in an analytical frame of mind--you know, looking for point of view changes, that kind of thing. But more often than not, the story and characters begin to sweep me away, so I simply abandon myself to sheer enjoyment and am totally lost. 

ALEXA: Tell me about a real life hero you've met.
DEBORAH: I met Sir Edmund Hilary in New Zealand during the 1970s.  He was giving a slide show presentation about a school he started for Nepali youngsters in the Everest region, and a clean-up effort he was spearheading along the Everest trail. The group was a very small group of environmental enthusiasts. And me. By "met" I mean that he said hello to me, and made a bit of small talk for about ten seconds. Never mind. It changed my life. Since then, mountains and the environment have become a big part of my life. I hiked the Everest trail as far as Hilary's 1953 base camp, and have supported local Sherpa's by giving away used-but-good-condition American style boots whenever I travel there.  

ALEXA: What was the first story you remember writing?
DEBORAH: I was always reading and writing as a child, but the first story I remember writing was a dog story. It was in Sixth Grade, for some kind of mandatory school competition that was held in my hometown, back in those days. As I recall, I won second place. 

ALEXA: What's your favorite movie of all time?
DEBORAH: The BBC has produced film versions of Jane Austen's novels and I love them all. Have them on DVD and pop one in the player every once in a while. There's a scene in Sense and Sensibility that comes to mind--Hattie Morahan's character Elinor is the library expecting a marriage proposal that never comes. She waits and waits for the words while her face slowly wilts into controlled dismay. 
 
ALEXA: What's your biggest vice?
DEBORAH: Dark chocolate. Period. Yes, there are healthy antioxidants in every delicious bite-that's my rationale, anyway!  

ALEXA:  Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
DEBORAH: My background in corporate communications gave me lots of practice writing nonfiction--pretty predictable stuff. My fictional characters, on the other hand, often surprise the
heck out of me!  For me, the most fun of all is weaving actual historical events into the lives of my characters.  

ALEXA:  What do you do to relax or unwind?
DEBORAH: Get outdoors. I love hiking with my dogs and horseback riding, just about every morning. Then, I'm centered and focused when I sit down at the computer. 

ALEXA:  What's your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
DEBORAH: I've always enjoyed historical fiction. There's a line in Romancing the Stone where the Joan Wilder character explains why she's a romance novelist--something like,  "I guess it's my way of living in another time."  I'd add that stories of earlier times seem to enhance my understanding and appreciation for what's happening today. 

ALEXA:  How did you come up with the idea for your book?
DEBORAH: The whole thing was entirely unexpected. I happened to notice a map with a notation that a WWII Japanese POW camp was located not too far from my neighborhood. I'd passed the building dozens of times without having a clue. It made me consider how the heritage of a place can be buried under years of the most ordinary perceptions. And I wondered, what would it have been like in 1941, if two people were falling in love--and one of them was Japanese?      

Thanks to Deborah for joining us! Folks, leave a comment below and one lucky person (in any US location) will receive a free print version of "Then I Met You"!

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Note: Please leave an email address for notification. Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address. 

E.E. Burke’s Best of the West Featuring Jill Marie Landis

Get Lost in An Exotic Romance

Even paradise demands a price for love and happiness in this Historical Romance set in Hawaii, 1888…

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Glass Beach by Jill Marie Landis

Widowed Elizabeth Bennett believes her troubles are over. Her loveless marriage is at an end. The death of her much older husband leaves her free to raise their daughter, Hadley, alone on her beautiful Hawaiian ranch…until the handsome Spence Laamea, her husband's heir and illegitimate son from a liaison with a native woman, arrives. Spence takes the estate--and Elizabeth's fate--under his control. 

Despite her distrust and against a backdrop of disapproval among the island's strict nineteenth-century white society, passions erupt between them. Elizabeth and Spence struggle to build a life for themselves and her daughter. When a deadly hurricane bears down on the island, it tests the bonds of love and loyalty they've tried to deny.

Excerpt:

Mauna Noe Ranch

Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, 1888

   A YOUNG BLOND WOMAN with haunted blue eyes stood alone at the edge of the cliff, staring at the waves that battered the black rocks below with nightmarish force. Trade winds buffeted her from behind, coaxing her long fair hair free of the tight knot at the nape of her neck, teasing the hem of her worn and outmoded burgundy gown until it rose and tangled about her ankles and calves. Behind her, open pastureland rose gently, caressed the foothills that bordered lush green mountains etched with silver ribbons of falling water and crowns of mist.
   Situated between the mountains and the sea, a rambling ranch house stood surrounded by lush tropical gardens. A whitewashed fence protected the profusion of blooms and greenery from the cattle scattered across the land. The house had been designed to face both the sea and the mountains. A wide, shaded veranda, called a lanai by the natives, wrapped all the way around the structure. Anyone inside the house or on the lanai could see her, could watch what she was about to do.
     If anyone was watching, she did not care.

Get Lost in Historical Romance with Jill Marie 

Glass Beach is one of those books you never forget, and it's one of the most unique "Westerns" I've ever read. Maybe you're like me, and would like to have Glass Beach available to reread anytime you want. Or maybe you've never enjoyed this book, or other classic historical romances by Jill Marie Landis. Many are available now in e-format. 

Go to www.jillmarielandis.com for the complete list of titles and links. While you’re there, sign up on the HOME page for her newsletter to get the latest news on new releases.

JILL MARIE LANDIS writes novels that earn distinguished awards and slots on such national bestseller lists as the USA TODAY Top 50 and the New York Times Best Sellers Plus. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award in Single Title Historical and Contemporary Romance as well as a Golden Heart and RITA Award winner.

She resides in Hawaii with her husband. When she's not writing or sitting on the beach reading, she enjoys visiting with family and friends, raising orchids, working in her garden, occasionally quilting, but most of all dancing the hula.

Some of her recent releases include the Irish Angels Series, inspirational historical romance from Zondervan, and MAI TAI ONE ON, TWO TO MANGO, and THREE TO GET LEI’D, the first three titles in her hilarious “Tiki Goddess Mysteries” set in Hawaii from Belle Books. Coming in June, TOO HOT FOUR HULA.

Q&A

E.E.: Glass Beach is set in Hawaii, yet you still call it a Western?

JILL:  In the 1830s, long before the American cowboy ever rode the range in our western territories, Californio vacqueros were sent to Hawai‘i to teach Hawaiians to round up the wild cattle introduced to the islands by British captain George Vancouver in 1793.

Unable to pronounce their colorful tutors’ names, the Hawaiians changed the word Español to paniolo and ever since, that word has become synonymous for cowboys all over Hawaii even today. One of the biggest cattle ranches in America is in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

The hero of Glass Beach, Spence Laamea, is a paniolo, tall, dark, exotic and devastatingly handsome. And don’t forget, Hawaii is about as far West as you can get in the USA.

E.E.: So tell us a little more about the storyline and how you came up with it.

JILL:  They say “write the book of your heart” and this one, for me, might be just that. I live on Kauai and love stories of the island’s past and present. 

Writing GLASS BEACH allowed me to combine a lot of things that I love in one story: cowboys, ranching, tropical settings, the 1800’s, strong dark heroes and heroines facing incredible challenges. I tossed in a few elements that make the plot different. The hero is a bit younger than the heroine, he is her late husband’s illegitimate son, and the fact that he’s half-Hawaiian would have been an obstacle to any future they might have together. In re-reading the book when it was put into e-formats, I realized how much I loved the story because it’s apparent in the descriptions I wrote of the island and way of life and traditions in Hawaii then and now.

GOTTA ASK:  Is Hawaii really paradise?

JILL:  Weather-wise, it is most of the time. Hawaii is like anywhere else, really, but the sky is blue and smog free (though when the winds shift we do have “vog” which is volcanic smoke and steam that comes up from the Big Island) and because of the tropical flora, there is green everywhere you look.

The populations of each island can double with tourists. That leads to traffic when there is only one main highway around the island as there is on Kauai. Goods and groceries from the mainland cost a lot more since they have to be shipped by sea or flown in. Gas is the highest in the nation. It hovers around $5 a gallon no matter what prices do on the mainland. But the upside is we don’t need to heat our homes in the winter and even if you can’t see the ocean you can usually get there within minutes from wherever you live.

People on vacation can’t imagine what we do to keep from getting island fever.  I’m often asked, “What do you do there?” My response is, “What do you do where you live?” Work, hobbies, join organizations, garden, clean, shop. We’re not just sitting around on the beach 24/7. At least we don’t admit it.

Website: www.jillmarielandis.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jill.m.landis

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Twitter: www.twitter.com/JillMarieLandis

Journey back to Kauai 1888

If you enjoy reading historical romance, have you ever wished you could travel back to the 1800’s to see what life was really like? Do you think you’d like living longer than week without modern conveniences?

Comment today to win one of two e-book copies of Jill Marie Landis’s GLASS BEACH.

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